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Quality Outcomes Research and Assessment (QORA)

High Impact Research

The Quality Outcomes Research and Assessment (QORA) team at the University of Utah Department of Orthopaedics specializes in the development and evaluation of quality of life instruments and the application of big data analytics. This is an amazing group of individuals with deep expertise and wide range of abilities. They conduct high impact research on health care quality and collaborate with researchers, clinicians and professionals to disseminate knowledge and improve patient-centered outcomes.

QORA

Multi-centered research

Leading the team, Dr. Man Hung has pioneered efforts to bring the use of patient-reported outcome measures into the information age, facilitating the use of these tools in clinical and research practice. She has directed and engaged in multi-centered research efforts and collaborates with researchers across the globe. The result has been innovating research in the area of health services and involvement in large numbers of research projects.

Patient outcomes

Ongoing efforts at QORA include evaluation and development in the area of computer adaptive tests for obtaining patient-reported outcomes. This expanding area of test development has the potential to drastically reduce the time and test burden necessary to fully evaluate patient needs and status. The rapid and convenient assessment of patient health status can empower clinical staff to offer the most appropriate treatment and improve quality of care across the full range of medical settings. In this area the team has capitalized on the advanced statistical modeling, psychometric expertise, and comprehensive research design abilities of team members, publishing numerous articles within the last several years.

Collaboration

The QORA team has collaborated extensively with the University of Utah as well as with the broader national and international community on efforts to improve the quality of life for the public. This collaboration has resulted in implementation of systematic data collection of patient-reported outcomes across institutions and departments. Other collaborations are addressing the issues of risk modeling, attempting to reduce hospital readmissions for the costliest conditions. When full testing and modeling has been completed, risk modeling can be implemented within the electronic medical records management system of the University of Utah Health Care system, beginning a new phase in management of patient risk. The QORA team is working to bridge the gap between patient-reported outcomes, medical information, technological systems, and clinical knowledge to unleash the full potential of technological solutions in clinical care.